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W estminster

BIGGEST

165 E. Main Street Westminster, MD | 410-848-8325

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FWS = The Faith We Sing

UMH = United Methodist Hymnal

* You are invited to stand in heart or posture Bold print = Congregation Responds Music printed under CCLI#627547

Worship Key

GREAT TO HAVE YOU JOIN US, TODAY! WELCOME to our worship service, today. We pray that you may find the peace and

encouragement of God’s presence during your time with us. Let us get a chance to know you. Join with our congregation in completing the “Welcome to Worship” registration form in your bulletin.

IN THE NARTHEX—Large Print Hymnals, Large Print Bulletins, Children’s Worship Bulletins , CD 8:30am Worship Recording, Welcome Center with ministry flyers.

Join us in the Martha Manahan Room, between services.

CAMPUS - Ask any usher for direction to various rooms on our campus. Take advantage of Guest Parking on our Center Street Lot.

ON REQUEST- American Sign Language Interpretation available with prior notice, on request. Our office will provide interpreter contact info to discuss your needs and schedule.. Hearing Assisted Worship available by asking usher for assistance.

CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION - Nursery with certified staff caring for children preschool and younger, at all services, year-round. 9:45am, Sunday School for all ages, September-May. 10:30am, Music Groups. Register in person at our Sunday School or Nursery or online by clicking on Registration at wumcmd.org or by scanning QR code (at right).

ALLERGY SENSITIVITY POLICY—We value our allergen-sensitive worshippers. We use only artificial flowers and plants during our Sunday worship and we ask our worship attendees refrain from wearing strong perfume/cologne.

Our Mission:

“Changing lives through Jesus Christ to make a difference. ”

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Welcome! On behalf of the people of Westminster UMC, I’d like

to express our joy at having you join in this celebration

of the birth of Christ and the message of God’s love

expressed in that birth. Please take time to sign the

Welcome Information Slips inserted in your bulletin

and return them through the Christmas Offering

Plates.

If you are looking for a church home, we hope you will

consider Westminster the place for faith, family and

friends. I’d like to personally invite you to enrich our

worship experience by joining us at our Sunday

morning worship services: 8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 am. At

9:45 am, we provide Christian education classes for

children and youth, as well as for a variety of adult

interests. Also available throughout the week are a

number of opportunities including prayer groups,

various choirs and Bible studies.

Thanks for joining us, this morning.

Rev. Malcolm Stranathan

Lead Pastor, Westminster UMC

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LITANY FOR LIGHTING THE ADVENT AND CHRIST CANDLES The Keefer Family People: Today we worship in awe and wonder and we give thanks that you cared enough for your people to come and live among us so that we might know your ways. Amen.

Leader: On each Sunday we lit candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Now we light the center candle. Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice!

People: Listen now to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today.

Leader: O Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.

People: Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.

All: Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice! Now you need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!

SETTING THE SCENE

SPECIAL MUSIC Star Child Young Let’s Get Ready, A Savior’s Coming Garcia Cherub and Ambassador Choirs

A SAVIOR IS COMING

SCRIPTURE Joseph and Mary Luke 2:1-7

CAROL Away in a Manger UMH 217 (Joseph and Mary come forward)

CAROL The Friendly Beasts UMH 227 verses 1-4 (All the Barn Animals come forward)

SCRIPTURE Angels celebrate Jesus Birth Luke 2:8-14

CAROL Angels We Have Heard on High UMH 238 (Angels come forward)

SCRIPTURE Shepherds Hear the News Luke 2:15

11am Family Christmas Eve’s Eve Service Welcome! Please fill out the “Welcome to Worship” registration form included in your

bulletin and place completed forms in the offering plate later in the service.

The mission of Westminster UMC: Changing lives through Jesus Christ to make a difference.

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Special Thanks to:

Meghan H. Brown and our Youth for the opening Flash Mob.

Kyler Brengle, Will and Kris Somers for their help with the Starry Backdrop.

Lynn Shaw for stepping out of her comfort zone and reading our Christmas Story.

Peggy Brengle, our organist, who keeps Pastor Malcolm straight and does everything great.

Cindy Potee for her leadership with the Cherub & Ambassador Choirs.

Jacki Stranathan and Sunday School Staff for helping to promote our program

Parents for bringing your children, today.

Children, who bring us JOY as they help us recreate The Story.

Sherri Haines for our bulletin design and the many drafts to get it just so.

11am Sunday Greeters, Ushers, Nursery, Tech for your stellar performance, each week.

Jesus … because without His birth, life, death and resurrection, we wouldn’t know each other.

SPECIAL MUSIC Run, Run, Shepherds! Page Children of Hope (Shepherds run to the manger!)

CAROL Rock-a-Bye, My Dear Little Boy UMH 235

SCRIPTURE Magi from the East Matthew 2:1-11

CAROL We Three Kings UMH 254 verses 1,5 (Kings come forward)

CAROL Hark! the Herald Angels Sing UMH 240

CHRISTMAS OFFERTORY Away in a Manger/What Child is This? B. Owens

CHRISTMAS PRAYER

CAROL Joy to the World UMH 246

Service continues...

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Christmas Giving .................................................................................................................... Wreaths ...................................................................................................................... In honor of Dave and Conni Highfield, by The Clendaniel Families.

In memory of Ronald Tomko, Charles and Virginia O'Brien, and in honor of family, by Debbie Cook.

In memory of Bill Hering, by Randy and Diane Groft.

In honor of Jackie Hering, by Randy and Diane Groft.

In honor of returning military, by Janet R. Halman-Miller.

In honor of our children: Tommy, Christiane, David, Kim, Nicholas, Colleen, Dave, and Meghan, by Tom and Karen Malehorn.

In honor of our grandchildren: Leila, Tyler, Collin, Connor, Emma, Caroline, Stella, Lucille, Grayson, and Baby Malehorn (due Dec 12), by Tom and Karen Malehorn.

In loving memory of my husband, Tom, by Sue Thomas.

..................................................................................................... Holiday Hope ....................................................................................................... In honor of Rev. Shari McCourt, Stemmie Stem, Charlie Im, Michelle Olson, by Peggy and Kyler Brengle.

In memory of Arnie Vandervalk, by Michael and Vicki Collett.

In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Conover, Jr., Martin Conover, and Ruth Ohler, by Richard Conover.

In honor of returning military, by Janet R. Halman-Miller.

In memory of my friend, Geoffrey Seargeant, with love from Alexa Hayman.

In memory of my friend, Mac Conover, with love from Lori Hayman.

In honor of our Mom and Grammy, Barbara Hayman, with love from Lori and Alexa Hayman.

In honor of our Dad and Pop, Bob Hayman, with love from Lori and Alexa Hayman.

In memory of my husband, Bill, by Jackie Hering.

In honor of the congregation and church staff, by Dave and Conni Highfield.

Given by The Merritts.

........................................................................................................... Other Giving .......................................................................................................... Given to the Cold Weather Shelter, in honor of the staff of WUMC, by Rev. Shari McCourt.

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................................................................... Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen .................................................................... In honor of Peggy and Kyler Brengle, by Ronnie and Larry Bohn.

In honor of Jennifer Munch, by Ronnie and Larry Bohn.

In honor of Larry and Veronica (Ronnie) Bohn, by Dan and Susan Bohn.

In honor of Rev. Malcolm Stranathan, Jacki Stranathan, Sherri Haines, Belinda Norton, John and Stephany Seargeant, by Peggy and Kyler Brengle.

In memory of Janice and Ellis Leatherwood, by Peggy and Kyler Brengle

In honor of our friend, Lora Desmond Butler, by Scott, Lily, Dick and Bonnie Clendaniel.

In honor of our children, Scott and Lily, Brad and Penny; our grandchildren, Jeremy, Rebecca, Kassi, Joshua, Caleb, Luke, and in memory of Denise, by Dick and Bonnie Clendaniel.

In honor of The Stephen Ministry, by Dick and Bonnie Clendaniel.

In loving memory of Denise Clendaniel, by her family.

In loving memory of Lillian Osten, by her family.

In loving memory of Charles and Rheba Clendaniel, by their family.

In loving memory of Bill and Becky Swartzbaugh, by their family.

In memory of Blair Bolton, by Juanita Crispens.

In memory of my husband, Dr. L. Earl Griswold, by Lura Griswold.

In honor of returning military, by Janet R. Halman-Miller.

In memory of our parents, Bill and Betty Harbold and Jesse and Irma Myers, by John and Susan Harbold.

In memory of Mr. and Mrs. John Brown and Mr. and Mrs. George Hering, by Jackie Hering.

In honor of our grandchildren: Adam, Shannon, Erin, Matthew, Emily, Bailee, Abigail, Meghan, Ben, by Steve and Ann Hull.

In memory of family members in Heaven, by Gary and Mary Kavanagh.

In memory of Anna Mae Melown Beard, Robert W. Melown, and Harry B. Beard, Jr., by Alvin and Sandy Keefer.

In memory of Dr. Robert Hartman, Albert Kelbaugh, and David A. Hartman, by Mark and Carol Kelbaugh.

In honor of Cathy Hartman and Laverne Kelbaugh, by Mark and Carol Kelbaugh.

In memory of Earl Griswold, by his family.

In memory of Brian Lockard, by Lynda Lockard.

In memory of Arnie Vandervalk, by Richard and Shirlee Marrs.

In memory of Thomas L. Munch, by Jennifer Munch.

In honor of all that serve the Soup Kitchen Ministry, by Donna and Jason Myers..

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Today’s bulletins are given to the Glory of God

in memory of my parents,

Robert and Leona DuVall,

by Donna DuVall Shaeffer.

Dec 24, 7pm Candlelight Service, nursery available Dec 24, 9pm Candlelight and Communion